Too early to panic about Markstrom

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by redmile04

Whats wrong with him/her asking a question?

Where did I say there was something wrong with asking a question?

[Infinit47]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

Markstrom gave up an awful goal tonight. However, you can't take those singular instances to try and build a narrative. His GSAA is still positive. He's saved more shots than have been expected to be saved by analytics. This notion would lead you to believe that the Flames as a whole have not been good defensively this season as they need to be. So- yes he should have had that shot saved tonight but overall- the team really needs to clean up their systems and defensive play if they want to turn this around.

His stats before tonight, which will get worse, had him 18th in goals saved above expected among goalies with 6 or more games. After tonight I'm guessing he drops down to the 20's.

He's been bad. Team defence has been poor, but Markstrom has been worse.

[TheSquatch]

Markstrom could have a stroke, whiff on a puck, and there'd be people on this board saying he was "unorthodox" and that these things happen.

He is capable of outstanding play. His consistency this year is not good. There's a gaff or a "probably-should-have" every game. There's a few "Wow he stopped that? Amazing." every game too. But the weak goals have to disappear, the goals where you sort of wonder where his concentration is at.

No one hear can possibly be thinking "Hey we'll win tonight, we've got Markstrom." It's not like that. "Man I hope he doesn't..." is more where I think every single one of us is at.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by TheSquatch

There's a gaff or a "probably-should-have" every game.

This isn't true. There's been goals he maybe could have had if he did something different but that doesn't make them bad goals.

That's not to say he could be better but that's highly overexaggerated. Just like saying that we're all at "Man I hope he doesn't...".

[dino7c]

With the .920 goaltending of last season this team would be near the top of the league
goaltending is just too important. Christ .910 would probably have 3-4 more wins

This is on both guys to be fair...its not like Vladar has good numbers either

[Goriders]

Not winning many games with 2 goals. In their defence.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Not winning many games with 2 goals. In their defence.

well they scored 3 in both of their previous 2...they also don't allow many high danger chances despite what you may have heard

goal tending in the .800s doesn't cut it

[Angelino]

I guess Markstrom doesn’t just suck against the Oilers

[CGY12]

Originally Posted by Steve Macfarlane

Markstrom hasn't had strong starts but has finished 2-0. Vladar took the loss with 40 minutes and allowing the winning goal last night.

Lots of external talk about what to do. I think he just needs a little time to get rolling and get the confidence back.

https://calgaryhockeynow.com/calgary...darryl-sutter/

It depends what your expectations are. Do I expect him to figure it out during the course of the season? Yes. Do I expect him to be in the upper echelon of goalies over the course of 82? Yes. Am I terrified of him in a playoff series pressure cooker where you can't give up any soft ones/marginal back breakers? Abso-freakin-lutely.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Oettinger is going to be a problem in the Western Conference. Dallas is going to be an extremely difficult out in the playoffs and not a team you want to face in the 1st round. He can easily steal a series against any team.

It’s looking like he won’t be our problem.

[madmike]

Wolf is looking great after a slow start. Just saying.

[TheSquatch]

Originally Posted by Inferno

This isn't true. There's been goals he maybe could have had if he did something different but that doesn't make them bad goals.

That's not to say he could be better but that's highly overexaggerated. Just like saying that we're all at "Man I hope he doesn't...".

So you're pretty happy with his game?

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by TheSquatch

So you're pretty happy with his game?

I never said that. I said this whole "He lets in a bad goal a game" narrative is highly overexaggerated.

And no, I don't go into every game saying "Man I hope he doesn't...". I don't go into every game either thinking the team only needs to score two goals because he's not going to let in more than a goal either.

[JohnnyB]

Markstrom's play is definitely a problem. His stats are pretty brutal and that game winning goal against last game was a bad one. I can't imagine it's a physical problem like an injury, or he just wouldn't be getting played this much. Sad to see his performance drop like this, especially since he still shows signs of the goalie he was last year but he hasn't been able to play up to his prior level with consistency at all.

[Infinit47]

Originally Posted by Inferno

I never said that. I said this whole "He lets in a bad goal a game" narrative is highly overexaggerated.

And no, I don't go into every game saying "Man I hope he doesn't...". I don't go into every game either thinking the team only needs to score two goals because he's not going to let in more than a goal either.

Of the 33 goalies who have played 6 or more games (i.e starters), Markstrom ranks:

26th in high danger save percentage
25th in Goals saved above average
24th in save percentage.

He has been downright terrible.

And while I agree he doesn't let in a brutal softy every game, I would say there is almost always a goal each game where we all think he really should have had it. Not a terrible goal, but not a guaranteed goal either.

Flames are 8th in expected goal splits in all situations, and that's with a large negative penalty differential.

I agree the Flames are not as good defensively as last year, but with average goaltending we are still looking good on the season and probably only talking about tightening up a bit defensively.

Goaltending is the single biggest problem with the Flames this year.

P.s Vladar has been even worse, but he's not making $6mil and playing most of the minutes so I'm not going to shred him here.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Inferno

I never said that. I said this whole "He lets in a bad goal a game" narrative is highly overexaggerated.

And no, I don't go into every game saying "Man I hope he doesn't...". I don't go into every game either thinking the team only needs to score two goals because he's not going to let in more than a goal either.

I went into the first few games thinking Markstrom has been struggling, but he'll get going - hope he plays better tonight.

I have gone into the last few games expecting that we will get outgoaltended. Because we have gotten outgoaltended in maybe 8 or 9 of the 12 games. And we have won the goaltending battle, what - once?

Weak goaltending isn't just about the one goal that they should have stopped, goaltending affects the confidence of the team and the way they play. A team getting great goaltending will feel like they are never out of a game. A team with weak goaltending feels deflated after a bad goal, and feels like they have to play perfectly to win.

And the NHL is far too competitive for that.

[Toonage]

I'm watching games now and I wince when someone gets in tight on Markstrom. I expect a goal. Now imagine how the team in front of him feels.

[iggyloob12]

Goalie needs to be better but the turnovers, bad pinches, line changes, and everything else that turns into grade-A chances for the other team need to stop. And the forwards making $5M or more need to actually score. If they don't do what they're paid to do, we can expect more of Lewis et al with elevated minutes.

[direwolf]

The most frustrating thing about Markstrom's struggles is *when* he's allowing these weak goals. It always seems to be during a crucial part of the game when the Flames have either momentum on their side, or they've just tied it or taken the lead. Just when the team starts to look really good...boom, soft goal goes in. That has to be deflating for the guys in front of him.

That being said, I still have faith that the team and Markstrom will figure it out and will get back on track. Getting some healthy bodies back would certainly help. This team is severely banged up.

[Erick Estrada]

I don't know what the deal is with Markstrom but he was like this in his first season with the Flames. We have to consider that maybe last season was the exception rather than the norm for him. Remember he had an issue with soft goals when he was a Canuck and even last season he let in some stinkers but he usually always rebounded the rest of the game and the team in front of him was elite. This season the team in front of him is really struggling and is having a tough time overcoming the untimely soft goals and losing the goaltending battle more than not.